Thailand has ordered a shutdown of internet and mobile data services crossing into Cambodia, in a sweeping move to disrupt transnational scam networks operating along the border. The decision, announced on 26 June 2025, was issued by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in response to growing concerns over online fraud, particularly call centre scams originating in Cambodia.
The directive targets areas near the Khlong Luek border crossing in Sa Kaeo province’s Aranyaprathet district, opposite Cambodia’s casino town of Poipet—a location long associated with illicit operations linked to cybercrime. Under the new rules, broadband and voice communications near the frontier will be fully suspended, while services in surrounding inland zones will be restricted or scaled back.
To ensure Thai residents living near the border retain access to mobile networks, telecom operators have been instructed to deploy mobile SIM service units. The NBTC is also requiring companies to submit updated SIM card sales reports every 15 days and to register all SIM cards used within Cambodia, including a declared purpose and user identification.
Telecom providers seeking to maintain cross-border communications must now apply for special permission, detailing the nature of their operations, bandwidth requirements, and safeguards to prevent misuse. Companies with Cambodian branches must set up internal transmission systems within two weeks to maintain business continuity.
The crackdown follows a series of reports linking scam operations in Poipet to high-rise buildings believed to serve as control centres for cybercriminal networks. According to Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, inspector-general of the Royal Thai Police, the restriction of border communications has already led to a drop in reported cybercrime cases.
Further investigations are underway into Cambodian-based financial firm Huione Group, which has been linked to suspected laundering of scam-related funds. In May, the company was labeled a “primary money laundering concern” by the United States Department of the Treasury, effectively barring it from access to the U.S. financial system. Thai cyber police believe substantial scam-related funds may have been funneled through Huione, with ongoing inquiries exploring a potential link to a relative of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
NBTC deputy secretary-general Trairat Viriyasirikul outlined the measures following a regulatory meeting, confirming the end of cross-border telecom services from 14 Thai operators previously providing broadband access within Cambodia. He added that future cooperation with Cambodian law enforcement remains uncertain, as communication between the two sides has reportedly stalled in recent weeks.
